To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

mm $1.50 Per Year VoL 78 No. 43 WASHINGTON, MO., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1924 mmm PETITION BY FARMERS DEMAIIDSHAX CUT 345,516 FARMERS UNITED IN TIHS MOVEMENT. Petition Two Miles Long Asks Congress To Reduce Cost of Running Government. A petition mor than two mile tent and bearing ta angaaluree ot swie far aim asking Congress to cut Governmental espendHwres and thereby iwauc tax, waa presented to the Mouse, Monday Afternoon, Janaary 7. hv Reoresantatfve George P. Darrow, of Pennsylvania. It was said to ba lb greatest petition, toth in length and In th ns ruber of signers, aver nffHMt 4a a fecJ&tative body. Tbea kigDer. secured by The Farm Journal, ot ralladeipbia. are from everv state In the Union, except Ne vada and South Carolina. Every algn- er waa declared to toe a practical farm er or one interested in ta tanning Wtoil th petition does not specifically urge the- adoption ot the plan ot tax reduction advocate, oy me oecrw-tary of the Treasury, having been ArmA 1nn tl ulMUli Of the MelaBn Tax Reduction proposal, the voluminous document U accepted by the lead-em of the tax reduction movement as proof of the farmer insistence Jon tiirmediafte tax reform and a an en-doraement of their efforts to revise the Income schedules and Inaugurate government economies. The greatest number of signers are Ohioans. 7.990 names ncing jiiuea from that state. Indiana waa next -with 80.739 signers; Iowa third -with n7V Pennsylvania. 23.780: Kansas. 22.009; "Wisconsin. 21.472; Minnesota. 20.594; Texas. 19.362; .Micmgan, u.-408; Nebraska, 1-6.469. and Kentucky, ii in Among the other states represented In the "petition were Missouri whb ii.-197 rimers: Sooth Dakota. 11.243; Colorado. 8.972: "North Dakota. 1.915; Oklahoma. 1.849; Tennessee 1.981; Virginia. 2.026; "West Virginia. 2.158. All other stateii had zi.iw metiers ,blnr . aranH total of 246.516. Tho ietltton a as brought to "Washington in an .automobile. Speaker nni.K nf ithA Tin i we of Representa- tlvees Indleated great Interest in the petition when it was snown 10 nun j Representative Darrow ana iuriw 1-.Tonlrlna tin the -ten of the Cupltol be fore it was brought into the House Chamber. in rntine the .netition Mr- Var row read to the House a letter Iwm (Charles F. Jenkins, publisher of The Farm Journal, which said in part: "I would be glad If you would point out to Congress that .every signer on the petition is a farmer or one directly iitoj in erfmltnre. There are attached to this petition 345.US names, and if the sheet were unru.reu they would measure over two and oe-juarter miles in length- This great army of trodocers, representing nearly, every Htsde In f 1 wft . . . . m . .k a vnirl-WMtf union dux maiiiiy ? - iCZllr inlcnKai .tatM. m cotc- taxes are too high. Fourteen nionm ago. a time when .iihV.nT'Vhe'i ti-surv surplus in sight, i- wneuj if seemed -possible even have to be. increased, e the urgency of the demand a.nong our readers bdo unn " . tr,rt- hng beginning at 7:30 o'clock by Prof-of thia petition 'amandins JtrJr rtmtter.. who at .one time taught hi CHI UUUIII J " , nn. ani the suruluB ot rev enoes began to appear, we ha vo felt unmistakably the rowth of this Vower-ful demand for the lightening of the tax burden. A win no doubt know, the farm pays its share and sometimes more that tts share ot an ana ... . .nn h. tn do it In nanny cases out of a little or ne margin oi profit. There Is no class on whom taxes weigh ao heavily. Farmers, lite many others, failed to iore. withe war would do to them In tbrt way of an enormous national de?t and sky-high taxes, but they see It plainly enough now and are asking; Congress fnr rcltaf. -yhu this crystallised 'nitment among rural people. maicai.t there is urgent aecesslty ot Mduclng. or at ' least not Increasing the burden ot taxes. Something can be done toward 'cutting governmental ex'penaes thriragtt -co-operation among dspart-;mefvt and 'more intelligent buying; but overloaded payrolls are largely reeponsibl for a conalderabla proportion of excessive governmental coat. Therefor, toy withholding inc reuses In aaiaries of Government employees. ' getting rid ot surplus employees and -landing In Arm opposition tensions ot personnel. Important eco- nomlea could be effected. The budget system has proved its worth, bet much remains to be done. ' ' -Furthermore, the time has come to " atop the jradual and steady intrusion It the Government into private busl-' nesa It is largely flhls expansion In new functions which has so enormoua-fy Increased the cost of Government. ' it not worth what It costs; and ' while farmers have benefited somewhat by the activities. has gone faV ' enough Governmental cost, ahould ' be bald down by refusing to UUtt any new bureaus or commissions, un-' lesa strictly self-supporting. . "We have found everywhere through the country a demand lor tai relief, and had we tiro we could have easl- MOBE VETERANS TO THE FIELD Twelve Meld IntditoHor Ar 75ew veo.ulrd en jr.je.ls. Protect train located on Missouri farms under compensation and Instruction by the V. 8. Veteran's Bureau now number more than 200 with the prospect of at least SO being added to their rank., on February 1. I'p to ate zbD man nave oeen locaieo. ror nr-la-t fr&lnln nn Miannurl farms and about M of these have completed tneir worx. (Twelve Held instructors appointed through the Veterans' Bureau and working under the supervision of the Missouri Agricultural Extension Service are now constantly at work visiting these project trainees on tbelr farms to aid them In handling their everyday 'problems, instructors recently appointed are: John H. Cox. formerly of Cairo, Mo., and a graduate ot the Missoarl College ot Agriculture in ltl; CUfton R. Thomson, Utllview, III- a Missouri graduate In 116; and Ed. Ewing, Morrisvllle, Mo-, a Missouri graduate in 1132. Refused I'm ( Aadltorlum. Th mmmjiiM in chars of leas ing the aadltorlum in the City Hall liuit Mk rlM-ted an BDDMcation for Its ue for a public speaking on Americanism". The epeaklng was scheduled for last Saturday night-it hallAOTvl that t-h Km Kim Klan had arranred the epeaklng program, and use of the auditorium waa re-fimut. Ttia K. K K. In the nast sev eral weeks held public speakings In Par Iflc Union. St. Clair, suilvaa ana other towns in the county. FINE HEW ORGAN FOR EVANGELICAL CHURCH INSTRUMENT ONE OF THE BEST IN MISSOURI. RccTlal and Special Services To Be Held Next Sunday At the St. Peter's Church. The St. Pnter'8 Evangelical Church will celebrate the Installation of a new $5000 pipe organ tn thetr hurcb this Sunday. Fibruary 3. with special services, moraine, afternoon and ev ening. Rev. F. Krufff of liethany Evangelical Ckurch of St- Lonis and Prr. F. Alavrr. D. 1).. Ph. D.. of Eden Seminary of U. Ixiuis will deliver the sermons for the day with short HfMreHiuMi hv rlsltincr KiinliltK. Prof. F. Plk'HTer of St. Lou in will axKlKt the organist in the vurlotm services of the flay and .give a rttcital in the The new Kil&en Eleehrlc Pneumatic Organ was bum enper.lally ror the St. Peteis Church- All irpe were es- ruw-lulr.v Hi.irirtttf'H mill imU.pft tn mut the psrtlcular .acoustical requirements of the building. The organ Is built ot sobd oak, T9 feet wide, 5 feet 9 inches deep and 19 feet tilgh. Jt has two manuals from CC to C wltfc 60 notes wach; concave and radiating pedals with compass of Of'C to O and note; 30 stop keys and 1250 jfcpes ig no rubbered . . rh Kilgen "Company las built pipe organs P-an t . M ... , ,h, ..... A wJ Kia nnrmfnlal nrhol here 3n Wasb- higton. IVof. PfeiBer is a wonderful musician and at present Is organist at the St. Mathew s Church of St-Louis and general secretary of the Religious Education Comniittet; of the Evangelical -Synod of America. Te congwatlon of the St. Teter's Evangelical Church is ito be congratu-lited upon the Installation of srich a wondiTful Instrument. The recital In the evening, to which a sincere ln-vitatlau is extended to te public, will prove W be a gr eat muslral treat. Celebrate Ehchty-lhlrd Birthday. J. J. Maupln. who resides several miles wt of WsHhington, celcoratad his eighty-third bj-thday aaniversary Vrtriav ttoiavi. February 1- Mr- Mau- pin enjoys good health and is very active tor a man nu age. inose wuo tunt iha ar with 111 111 were: Mr. and Mrs. Rott and Mrs- Henry Hoels of St. Louis, Mrs. J. D- Maupln and Mra. w H. Ran and daughter. BUlle, of Washington and Mrs- M. Wilkinson of Boles and several otaer friend. . 1. M. Mark. 78 vears old. formerly Of this city, waa struck by an automobile while crossing Eighteenth street near his nlac of business in St. Louis on Monday. January 21- His right leg waa broken below the knee, and he suffered bruises about his bead and hodv. Mr. Mack is receivlnc treat ment at the Mullanpny Hospital in St. uuis and last reports are cnai ne Is getting along nicely. His daughter. Mm. I-miU r. Puea. of Washinc- ton la at his bedside in St. Louis. A. C Rumpelt spent Sunday- in St. Louis with his parents. ly obtained a million or more signature tha iMttltinn. hut th altuation is acute and we have felt that 345,000 signatures wouia ne sumciem to oe-monstrat that the demand of fanner fnr at r I tit Yivernmntfiil urnnnmUi permit reduction of tax burden la a real ana nrgem one." MAKING PLANS FOR A BIG BASE BALL YEAR PLAYERS RAISING FUNDS FOR UNIFORMS, ETC. Several Public Entertainment Will Be Held Voluntary Donations Solicited. The members of Washington's 1923 baseball team held a meeting In the office of the Bone Products Co.. last Tuesday evening for the purpose of discussing the coming 1924 baseball season and making some .preparations to raise money for new uniforms and other expenses connected with the op eration of a good baseball team. Those present were Henry Tibbe, Jo and John Krawltx, John Breeden. James Neher. Oscar WHlthoelter. Os car Barklage. Clyde Calvin and Law rence Brinker. Washington, beyond any doubt, had the best team in Franklin County and this section of Missouri during the 1923 season. Taken as a whole the gamea played here at the City Park were hifrh-claxs and offered a fine ex hibition of the American pastime. In fact, the team management last year waa very successful and resulted In the best team that Washington baa had for years. However, the management of a baseball team is a bigger Job than the members of the team feel they want to undertake alone again. And ao, It was agreed among the member that a board of directors consisting of five prominent business men of Washington be selected to assist with the affairs of the team. A meeting will be held next week of the board of director and the members ot the team tor the election of a president, IniBinens manager, secretary and treasurer, team manager and' team captain. It has been the custom the past years for members of the team to personally ask for subscriptions to defray the expenses of the team- This will not be resorted to this year as the memlters of the team feel that they should not be expected to "shoot the paper." The team needs new unl forms and some other equipment. In order to raise this money, the team will place lifts in several of the business ilaces ot the city were anybody who wishes to contribute to the team may do so. This plan should prove very satisfactory and will no doubt ralBe the necessary money for the team- The memSierB of the team also are gsing to werk and raise some money themselves 'by giving a few dances, the first one being at Turner Hall, this Saturday evenlag, February 2 A --ood orchestra will be provided nnd a very good dance promised- The admission dharge has been fixed at 50 cents plus 5 cents war tax for gentlemen with ladles admitted free. It Tri hoped that many will attead the dance and do their part toward helping the ball team. Dies In St. LoaU HloNpltaL Mrs. Mary TJiiebbert died at the St-John s Hospital In St. Louis. Friday. January 25. t the age of 85 y;ars. 2 months and 6 days. Mm. Mary Duebbert. nee Crnbb. was born In St Louis. Mo., November 19. 1838. the eldest daughter of Peter Grabb and wife. Dorothea, nee Lein- ard. On Fehraary 9. 1S60. she was marrlnd to Mr. Gerhard Duebbert. To this mton nine children were born. five of "whom .preceded the mother to the grure. After their marriage. Mr- and Mm. Duebbert moved to M- Charles, Mo-, whea e they llwd for si- most lx years. lUater they came to Franklin County and reslited near Boles. On Jury 17. 1SS2. Mr Duebbert died. .Mrs. Duebben remained on the farm at Boles until 1916. when she moved to I'nlon. AVi.. to tnak her home wKh tier Uaughrer, Mrs. Emma Schnaalh. Mrs. DueWiert becasoe seriously 111 last Wednesday and waa taken to St. Louis to have an operation performed, and which it was hoped would save her lit but she fafied to rally-She leave to mourn her departure ber fosr children, Mr. Emma Schnaath, of Union, Mr. J- Berg-horn and H- H. Duebbert. ot Boles. and Edward Daebbert, of Oklahoma City. Okla-. nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one sister. Mrs. Holts, of Bt. Lout. Menealos Brakulls. oa of Mr. and Mrs- Dementriua Biakulis, died at his bom tn St. Louis Wednesday niorn-Iqg, January 30. at the age of 11 year, He la survived by his parent and two brothers. George, of St. Louis and John of Washington. Th funeral aervicea were held Friday (today) In St Louis. Mr. Brakulls k the proprietor of th Olympta Candy Co., and his place of business wae closed for several days. Miss Lucille Krog. of this city, took part in a student' recital at Linden-wood College, St. Charlees. Mo., con cluding tha first semester in late January. Her number waa "Sonata Op. 26" by Beethoven, (Adante con Varlaslonl), a sympathetic and melodious rendition of seven elaborations. The recital -was elven In Itoemer Auditorium, before tb student body of 450 girls, and the faculty. OBSERVER PLANT HOW III BUSINESS DISTRICT NEW HOME BOUGHT FROM A LOCAL BANK. Moving of Heavy Machinery a Hue- Task A. A. Stein-beck Now In Charge. Che office and printing plant of the Franklin Publishing Company, pub lisher of the Franklin County Obser ver, are now located in the former Bank of Washington building on the south side of Main Street, between Lafayette and Oak. This building was purchased aa a home for tb Franklin County Observer several weeks ago by A. H- Steinbeck, statis tician for the Bureau of Labor Com mlBsloners at Jefferson City aad senior member of the firm Franklin Publishing Company, which also pub lishes the Ttepublican-Trlbune and conducts a large and modern printing plant at Union, the county seat. A. A. Steinbeck is In charge of the business at Washington, while his younger brother. H- F. Steinbeck, Is in charts of the Union plant. Mr and Mrs. A. A. Steinbeck and little son have moved to Washington from I'nlon and together alth O. H. Bark-lav and family will occupy the mini above the printing plant on Main Street. The former bank building was thoroughly remodeled both for business and residence purposes. It Is ideally located in the heart of the business district and its construction and arrangement are vr-tlcularly adapted for newspaper and printing purposes. Many changes, however, are still to be made and, when completed, the owners will he equipped to publish a bigger and better newspaper and render the best lu printing service. Th Job of moving to the new location was a huge task, and this week's kwue of the Observer was printed under many difficulties. We beg the Indulgence of our subscribers if this week'a Issue falls to reach them on Urns or that the edition l not up to Us usual standard in the way of news and typographical neatness. The entire force worked mighty diligently this week grabbing only as much sleep as absolutely necessary. Otto yoessli of Hermann. Mo.. Joined our atechaiilcal force thia week as an "ad and' Job man" and unsifted in moving the plant. All the moving of heavy machinery was clone under supervision of August Mueller & Son- Many people were attracted to our new home watching the b"y movers unload the heavy pieces of steel. When these pieces of ..tcel and anmerous bolts, etc.. were finally in our new home they all had to be put together again-There probably Is no other machinery In the world more intricate and complicated than newspaper presses and typesetting machines, particularly linotypes. Nevertheless our force, together with some local machinists, managed to get all the machines up ami going in perfect working order wfchout th aid of some skilled outside machinists. We'll admit, however, that brains ached under many perplexing problems and we're glad now that It is all over. The Observer fr. u Indebted to the aervicea of Ruaeel J. Tibbe. or the mine rrouucia Co.. and H- P. Shive. district manager for the Northwestern Mutual Life In surance Co. Both thes gentlemen are skilled machinists, and they donned overalls and helped the rest of the force In getting the big machines back ia operation. Within the next week we expect to have our new office :-.t ".nli.lr antf annn" ana pnniniK .j... - - in everv vnf, and we will then ap- tiavlnz visitors call on us. The new Observer horn was built ia 1880 and was occupied from that time until about a year ago by the Rank of Washington. It is three atnrioa hieh. of brick and stone con strnctlon. The building Is equipped with a first-class eteam heating plant and other modern conveniences. LeIn Pot Elects Officer. The Washington Post of the Ameri can Lerhm tieid a meeting at the Tut ner Hall Anacx Thursday evening. January 24. Th following officers were elected for the coming year: A. C. Runrnelt. commander; Walter Otto, vice-commander; R. v. wiuen-hHnk. nost admtant: Edwin H. Thlas finance officer; Walter Roehl. welfare officer; Roy Miller, custodian. Dr. Cutler, who Joined the Legion Thura-day evening, spoke on the soldier bonus. City Attorney Herbert A- Krog. gave a talk on "The Difference of the Soldiers of the World War and those ?f the Civil War." Another meeting was held at the Bank of Washington on Thursday v-enlnc. January 31. and four entertainment committees were appointed. First committee, John Toben. chairman; Fred Mauntel. Martin Boston. Melvln Frlck, Leander Eckelkamp and Roy Miller; second committee, Walter Roehl, chairman; Chaa. Schroeder. Emll Ronslck, Edmund Zeller, Matt Bleker and Louis Kohmueller; third committee, Fred Spreckelmeyer, chairman; John Brinkmann. Henry Detmer, Arthur Mauntel, Henry W. Altemueller and Al. Holtmeyer; fourth committee, Noel Graf rath, chairman; Walter Otto, Henry Tibb. John Wilmesheer, Ed- Schwenker and Henry Kahle. BIIE MAT BEAT MISSOIKI ASH tiraaddaagfater ef Eanieas Hen Ms I'ace at tollege ef Agriculture n lavinar Ml errs In ten. months U'trita Urhnra hen No. 57 at tha Mis souri College ot Agriculture ha aet a new pace In tha flock ot 1,200 hens now being trap-nested by the depart ment or poultry ouaDanary. i oia oen la a granddaughter of the tamoua hen. Missouri Ann (No. 2768). atlll living and nrraalnnallv lavlna at the College of Agriculture. Missouri Ann laid 946 eggs In six year and win oouDuess make the l.ooo egg goal oetor sne mh to her lone rest. The new candidate for the honors ot tha College flock began laying at 220 daya of age and has completed ner first laying year with a record of 247 rn Her mother. Hen No. 3302. laid 202 egga her first year, fihe also ha a alster that laid 420 eggs in ner nrsi two yaars- All hen at the College of Agrlcul ture are warmly boused and are care' fully fed balanced ration. The prln clples underlying their care are In rluded In Station Circular 111. "Feed Ing For Egg Production." which may be obtained by addressing the College of Agriculture at coiumma, mo. Ice In River Break. Ttie ke In the Missouri River, which was blocked here tor seven days, broke last Sunday evening shortly after 5 o'clock. The swiftly moving lea threatened damage to sev eral barge and amall boats. Only a few persons ventured a trip across th river while it was blocked- There were numerous so-called "air holes", and nowhere was the Ice more than six Inches thick. This waa the firBt time in six years that the Mis sourl River was blocked at Washing ton. SHORT NEWS ITEMS OF LOCAMNTEREST FACTS ABOUT PEOPLE AND PLACES YOU KNOW. Incidents That Occurred Dur ing Past Week In Washington and Surroundings. Car) Krunmlck returned Thursday iiHin.lntrfrum Chicago, III.;" where tie attended an automobile show. Julius Vogt of HigglnHvllle, Mo., arrived Wednesday afternoon for a visit here with Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Vogt This week Nlewald's Garage moved to the property formerly occupied by the Acme Poster Company on West Main Street. Bihr Brothers will oc cupy the garage building on Second fUreet and will have their plumbing business there. Henry Pollex died suddenly Friday morning, February 1, at the age of C7 years- The funeral will be held Monday. February 4. from tbe rest dence east of town. The remains will be shipped to Morrison. Mo. Obituary win be given next week. A single comb White Leghorn, the property of the Poultry department of the University of Missouri, recently established a new laying record for this section by laying 247 eggs In 12 months. The previous record In the department was 245 eggs In a year- Last Thursday evening. January 24 while out night hunting several miles from town. John Hoelscher of this city fell out of a large tree, the dis tance being about 20 feet. His arm was broken In two places, and he al so suffered internal Injuries. At present he Is In a critical condition. Prof. H. F. Major, landscape architect of the University of Missouri advised visitors In Columbia recently attending tbe Farmers' Fair to plant fruit trees along the highways of the state. The practice would serve a triple plan, of producing fruit for the owner, beautify the roadsides, and In crease the value ot tbe land, he ex plained. The second semester of the University of Missouri begins January 29, following a week of final examinations terminating the first semester Registration at the University 1s expected to Increase somewhat with the opening of tb winter terra. It la the first winter term under the two-sem ester plan, which the University re turned to this year after several years ot th three-term plan. Master Donald Aael celebrated his alxth birthday anniversary Wednesday afternoon, January 30, by entertaining several of bis little friend at hia bom on Oak 8 1 rest. Those piesent ware: Lorene Twelker, Ruth Pelts, Margie Horn, Jane Arcularlua. Lollta Baumann.. Jean Schuls and Betty Ana Wigden; Virgil AltholU, Kenneth Krael, Arnold Baumann, Jr.. Junior Schulx, Frederick Pelts, Donald Twelker and Donald Aael. Mra. Magdalln O'Neill, nee'Asher- mann. died at her horn In St. Louis, Friday, January 25. at the age of 84 years. Mra. O'Neill Is survived toy her daughters, Miss Catherine O'Neill, of St. Loui. and Mrs. Edward Close, of Ban Francisco, Cat. She also leaves one brother. Fred Ashermann, and on alster, Mlaa Julia Aahermann. Mrs. O'Neill waa a alster of Mrs. Mary Hollhau and Mra. John Trentmann, ot thia city, tooth deceased, she had many friend her who will be sorry to learn ot her death. MISS SEIFERT WRITES A BIOGRAPHY OF SELF, POPULAR AUTHOR SPENT CHILDHOOD HERE. Says Her First Story Was Bae4l On a Tragedy That Hap-ened In Washington. t Miss Shirley Selfert. ot St- Louta. ona of America' aioet popular tory writers, has another later ting uon- trlbutlon of fiction in th January issue of The Designer. Ia late year her stories bav appeared la tnany the leading tnagaxinea of tb United States. Mis Selfert apeat ber Clifla--hood days In Washington and hall many friend here woo are intererttad In her continued soocess aa m rtory writer. Tha Designer, (n addition to Ml Selfert's latest story. "Hands Ftiir', published a photograph and biography of Mis Selfert wrKtea by herself. In her biography ab makea mention of tbe time she lived in Washington, and that her very first story. iuto-llshed In Munsey's. was based nu a tragedy brought over from here. MN Selfert'i biography, aa published .by Tbe Designer, follow: Now for the biography: I declare I always groan over that task. If T show what seems to me a decent rt- cence about my private personality. I am called stingy. If I threw discretion to tbe winds and prattle frank ly about my ego, I sound too flippant to be quite respectable I cant bore you. either, with a eerioua treatment of my career, which Is eventful only to me because to me the dawn of new day Is an event. This curious' Interest In the little happening ot every day plays havoc, I am afraid, with my story plotting- The wmt dramatic things, to my notion) fall flat on the ears of those whom 1 would have for readers- 1 am afraid that will spoil the biography, too. I was born in the little town culled St. Peters. Missouri, off the erir of a large farm belonging to my grandfather. From those days of iii1uit:y and later childhood-visits to the farm. I have carried fleeting vions of sunlit spuces and a hankering for roominess, abundance, oonxfortable living and peace a somt tfclLfi that muaea me stifle in tbe city, it every so often I can't get Into the pen to breuth. At -least. . tbat'a -wtiere 1 -wuppomi I derived my love for tre open couutry-Nowadays I am saying. "When I get a little more money, I am golnr; ts build me a home on a wooded hill with the sparkle of water rlgrt wtirr-I can see it. and have dogs und horse or two and all the flowers In, the world and so cn and on.' . Soon after my birth, my parent moved to St. Louis, and A year or two later to another email town, Washington. Missouri, where 1 spent mont of my childhood. 1 was a precocious child. I fear, with a fatal ease of learning, which must have made me somewhat offensive. I can't remenv-. ber that I was at all popular, though I And now that I did have quite a fww friends there. I didn't write, but tfetir me, how I did read! Everything from a stolen "Sappho" to a translation of tbe "Aeneid." My mother interrupt to say that I did write, that once I wrote "An Autobiography of a Doll,' which mada a real sensation. 1" haven't a copy. Oui was a larr. family and every o often 'the attio. got so full that tbe surplus hud to, be burned. I did apeak pieces. Elocution, they called t! Once, an " rather fat, funny person In tuckid ' white organdy, I won a prise for declaiming a prairie fire. The prU was a Cambridge edition of Longfel low Poems, illustrated, and auto graphed by the school superintend!!, ' Then we came back to HL lu!fl . and her we are! 1 graduated from,-the high schools here and from Wat;h- , Ington University. I was still smart. ' At college I translated Horace's Od into poetry and so got a good grade In Latin and not too much personal attention. For writing at high school I moved an assembly to tears with my Impressions of tbe history of Joun ot Arc. And I was class-poet wh:a 1 graduated from the university. I shamelessly took any rhyme scheme from Keats and my sentiments from Lowell. Poetry Isn't natural to me. though tha first written fling tur which I earned money waa a Uncle la' an advertising contest. Tbrougn college, I still had a tast tor the stage, was even starred in Ut annual tnaav ' moth production of tie dramatlo club, put on at a regular theatre. . Once bara-atoMned for a week through the state. Vou see, that sort ' of thing terribly adventurous to mo. but meaningless. to you all. After college I taught school. Fail ing to hold my interest In that orates-. skn, I tried business, doing secre tarial work all through the, war. Jut before that, however, I took a sum- : mer course In Journalism at th Use- . verslty of Wisconsin. I waa trylng-slmply to And something to do besldi teaching. Looking ever th catalog. picked on Journalism toecaus 1 i rather liked to write. Ones, bock In oollege. in th court of F.oglbih study, I had written a story based vm ' a tragedy brought over from the town of Washington. . Tie orofessor - thought It so horrid that I paid th deas's secretary to type It and I seut 1 It on to Munsey's. Way Muneev'a. I ' cant remember. The auacaaiue Leut (continued on page 4)

mm $1.50 Per Year VoL 78 No. 43 WASHINGTON, MO., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1924 mmm PETITION BY FARMERS DEMAIIDSHAX CUT 345,516 FARMERS UNITED IN TIHS MOVEMENT. Petition Two Miles Long Asks Congress To Reduce Cost of Running Government. A petition mor than two mile tent and bearing ta angaaluree ot swie far aim asking Congress to cut Governmental espendHwres and thereby iwauc tax, waa presented to the Mouse, Monday Afternoon, Janaary 7. hv Reoresantatfve George P. Darrow, of Pennsylvania. It was said to ba lb greatest petition, toth in length and In th ns ruber of signers, aver nffHMt 4a a fecJ&tative body. Tbea kigDer. secured by The Farm Journal, ot ralladeipbia. are from everv state In the Union, except Ne vada and South Carolina. Every algn- er waa declared to toe a practical farm er or one interested in ta tanning Wtoil th petition does not specifically urge the- adoption ot the plan ot tax reduction advocate, oy me oecrw-tary of the Treasury, having been ArmA 1nn tl ulMUli Of the MelaBn Tax Reduction proposal, the voluminous document U accepted by the lead-em of the tax reduction movement as proof of the farmer insistence Jon tiirmediafte tax reform and a an en-doraement of their efforts to revise the Income schedules and Inaugurate government economies. The greatest number of signers are Ohioans. 7.990 names ncing jiiuea from that state. Indiana waa next -with 80.739 signers; Iowa third -with n7V Pennsylvania. 23.780: Kansas. 22.009; "Wisconsin. 21.472; Minnesota. 20.594; Texas. 19.362; .Micmgan, u.-408; Nebraska, 1-6.469. and Kentucky, ii in Among the other states represented In the "petition were Missouri whb ii.-197 rimers: Sooth Dakota. 11.243; Colorado. 8.972: "North Dakota. 1.915; Oklahoma. 1.849; Tennessee 1.981; Virginia. 2.026; "West Virginia. 2.158. All other stateii had zi.iw metiers ,blnr . aranH total of 246.516. Tho ietltton a as brought to "Washington in an .automobile. Speaker nni.K nf ithA Tin i we of Representa- tlvees Indleated great Interest in the petition when it was snown 10 nun j Representative Darrow ana iuriw 1-.Tonlrlna tin the -ten of the Cupltol be fore it was brought into the House Chamber. in rntine the .netition Mr- Var row read to the House a letter Iwm (Charles F. Jenkins, publisher of The Farm Journal, which said in part: "I would be glad If you would point out to Congress that .every signer on the petition is a farmer or one directly iitoj in erfmltnre. There are attached to this petition 345.US names, and if the sheet were unru.reu they would measure over two and oe-juarter miles in length- This great army of trodocers, representing nearly, every Htsde In f 1 wft . . . . m . .k a vnirl-WMtf union dux maiiiiy ? - iCZllr inlcnKai .tatM. m cotc- taxes are too high. Fourteen nionm ago. a time when .iihV.nT'Vhe'i ti-surv surplus in sight, i- wneuj if seemed -possible even have to be. increased, e the urgency of the demand a.nong our readers bdo unn " . tr,rt- hng beginning at 7:30 o'clock by Prof-of thia petition 'amandins JtrJr rtmtter.. who at .one time taught hi CHI UUUIII J " , nn. ani the suruluB ot rev enoes began to appear, we ha vo felt unmistakably the rowth of this Vower-ful demand for the lightening of the tax burden. A win no doubt know, the farm pays its share and sometimes more that tts share ot an ana ... . .nn h. tn do it In nanny cases out of a little or ne margin oi profit. There Is no class on whom taxes weigh ao heavily. Farmers, lite many others, failed to iore. withe war would do to them In tbrt way of an enormous national de?t and sky-high taxes, but they see It plainly enough now and are asking; Congress fnr rcltaf. -yhu this crystallised 'nitment among rural people. maicai.t there is urgent aecesslty ot Mduclng. or at ' least not Increasing the burden ot taxes. Something can be done toward 'cutting governmental ex'penaes thriragtt -co-operation among dspart-;mefvt and 'more intelligent buying; but overloaded payrolls are largely reeponsibl for a conalderabla proportion of excessive governmental coat. Therefor, toy withholding inc reuses In aaiaries of Government employees. ' getting rid ot surplus employees and -landing In Arm opposition tensions ot personnel. Important eco- nomlea could be effected. The budget system has proved its worth, bet much remains to be done. ' ' -Furthermore, the time has come to " atop the jradual and steady intrusion It the Government into private busl-' nesa It is largely flhls expansion In new functions which has so enormoua-fy Increased the cost of Government. ' it not worth what It costs; and ' while farmers have benefited somewhat by the activities. has gone faV ' enough Governmental cost, ahould ' be bald down by refusing to UUtt any new bureaus or commissions, un-' lesa strictly self-supporting. . "We have found everywhere through the country a demand lor tai relief, and had we tiro we could have easl- MOBE VETERANS TO THE FIELD Twelve Meld IntditoHor Ar 75ew veo.ulrd en jr.je.ls. Protect train located on Missouri farms under compensation and Instruction by the V. 8. Veteran's Bureau now number more than 200 with the prospect of at least SO being added to their rank., on February 1. I'p to ate zbD man nave oeen locaieo. ror nr-la-t fr&lnln nn Miannurl farms and about M of these have completed tneir worx. (Twelve Held instructors appointed through the Veterans' Bureau and working under the supervision of the Missouri Agricultural Extension Service are now constantly at work visiting these project trainees on tbelr farms to aid them In handling their everyday 'problems, instructors recently appointed are: John H. Cox. formerly of Cairo, Mo., and a graduate ot the Missoarl College ot Agriculture in ltl; CUfton R. Thomson, Utllview, III- a Missouri graduate In 116; and Ed. Ewing, Morrisvllle, Mo-, a Missouri graduate in 1132. Refused I'm ( Aadltorlum. Th mmmjiiM in chars of leas ing the aadltorlum in the City Hall liuit Mk rlM-ted an BDDMcation for Its ue for a public speaking on Americanism". The epeaklng was scheduled for last Saturday night-it hallAOTvl that t-h Km Kim Klan had arranred the epeaklng program, and use of the auditorium waa re-fimut. Ttia K. K K. In the nast sev eral weeks held public speakings In Par Iflc Union. St. Clair, suilvaa ana other towns in the county. FINE HEW ORGAN FOR EVANGELICAL CHURCH INSTRUMENT ONE OF THE BEST IN MISSOURI. RccTlal and Special Services To Be Held Next Sunday At the St. Peter's Church. The St. Pnter'8 Evangelical Church will celebrate the Installation of a new $5000 pipe organ tn thetr hurcb this Sunday. Fibruary 3. with special services, moraine, afternoon and ev ening. Rev. F. Krufff of liethany Evangelical Ckurch of St- Lonis and Prr. F. Alavrr. D. 1).. Ph. D.. of Eden Seminary of U. Ixiuis will deliver the sermons for the day with short HfMreHiuMi hv rlsltincr KiinliltK. Prof. F. Plk'HTer of St. Lou in will axKlKt the organist in the vurlotm services of the flay and .give a rttcital in the The new Kil&en Eleehrlc Pneumatic Organ was bum enper.lally ror the St. Peteis Church- All irpe were es- ruw-lulr.v Hi.irirtttf'H mill imU.pft tn mut the psrtlcular .acoustical requirements of the building. The organ Is built ot sobd oak, T9 feet wide, 5 feet 9 inches deep and 19 feet tilgh. Jt has two manuals from CC to C wltfc 60 notes wach; concave and radiating pedals with compass of Of'C to O and note; 30 stop keys and 1250 jfcpes ig no rubbered . . rh Kilgen "Company las built pipe organs P-an t . M ... , ,h, ..... A wJ Kia nnrmfnlal nrhol here 3n Wasb- higton. IVof. PfeiBer is a wonderful musician and at present Is organist at the St. Mathew s Church of St-Louis and general secretary of the Religious Education Comniittet; of the Evangelical -Synod of America. Te congwatlon of the St. Teter's Evangelical Church is ito be congratu-lited upon the Installation of srich a wondiTful Instrument. The recital In the evening, to which a sincere ln-vitatlau is extended to te public, will prove W be a gr eat muslral treat. Celebrate Ehchty-lhlrd Birthday. J. J. Maupln. who resides several miles wt of WsHhington, celcoratad his eighty-third bj-thday aaniversary Vrtriav ttoiavi. February 1- Mr- Mau- pin enjoys good health and is very active tor a man nu age. inose wuo tunt iha ar with 111 111 were: Mr. and Mrs. Rott and Mrs- Henry Hoels of St. Louis, Mrs. J. D- Maupln and Mra. w H. Ran and daughter. BUlle, of Washington and Mrs- M. Wilkinson of Boles and several otaer friend. . 1. M. Mark. 78 vears old. formerly Of this city, waa struck by an automobile while crossing Eighteenth street near his nlac of business in St. Louis on Monday. January 21- His right leg waa broken below the knee, and he suffered bruises about his bead and hodv. Mr. Mack is receivlnc treat ment at the Mullanpny Hospital in St. uuis and last reports are cnai ne Is getting along nicely. His daughter. Mm. I-miU r. Puea. of Washinc- ton la at his bedside in St. Louis. A. C Rumpelt spent Sunday- in St. Louis with his parents. ly obtained a million or more signature tha iMttltinn. hut th altuation is acute and we have felt that 345,000 signatures wouia ne sumciem to oe-monstrat that the demand of fanner fnr at r I tit Yivernmntfiil urnnnmUi permit reduction of tax burden la a real ana nrgem one." MAKING PLANS FOR A BIG BASE BALL YEAR PLAYERS RAISING FUNDS FOR UNIFORMS, ETC. Several Public Entertainment Will Be Held Voluntary Donations Solicited. The members of Washington's 1923 baseball team held a meeting In the office of the Bone Products Co.. last Tuesday evening for the purpose of discussing the coming 1924 baseball season and making some .preparations to raise money for new uniforms and other expenses connected with the op eration of a good baseball team. Those present were Henry Tibbe, Jo and John Krawltx, John Breeden. James Neher. Oscar WHlthoelter. Os car Barklage. Clyde Calvin and Law rence Brinker. Washington, beyond any doubt, had the best team in Franklin County and this section of Missouri during the 1923 season. Taken as a whole the gamea played here at the City Park were hifrh-claxs and offered a fine ex hibition of the American pastime. In fact, the team management last year waa very successful and resulted In the best team that Washington baa had for years. However, the management of a baseball team is a bigger Job than the members of the team feel they want to undertake alone again. And ao, It was agreed among the member that a board of directors consisting of five prominent business men of Washington be selected to assist with the affairs of the team. A meeting will be held next week of the board of director and the members ot the team tor the election of a president, IniBinens manager, secretary and treasurer, team manager and' team captain. It has been the custom the past years for members of the team to personally ask for subscriptions to defray the expenses of the team- This will not be resorted to this year as the memlters of the team feel that they should not be expected to "shoot the paper." The team needs new unl forms and some other equipment. In order to raise this money, the team will place lifts in several of the business ilaces ot the city were anybody who wishes to contribute to the team may do so. This plan should prove very satisfactory and will no doubt ralBe the necessary money for the team- The memSierB of the team also are gsing to werk and raise some money themselves 'by giving a few dances, the first one being at Turner Hall, this Saturday evenlag, February 2 A --ood orchestra will be provided nnd a very good dance promised- The admission dharge has been fixed at 50 cents plus 5 cents war tax for gentlemen with ladles admitted free. It Tri hoped that many will attead the dance and do their part toward helping the ball team. Dies In St. LoaU HloNpltaL Mrs. Mary TJiiebbert died at the St-John s Hospital In St. Louis. Friday. January 25. t the age of 85 y;ars. 2 months and 6 days. Mm. Mary Duebbert. nee Crnbb. was born In St Louis. Mo., November 19. 1838. the eldest daughter of Peter Grabb and wife. Dorothea, nee Lein- ard. On Fehraary 9. 1S60. she was marrlnd to Mr. Gerhard Duebbert. To this mton nine children were born. five of "whom .preceded the mother to the grure. After their marriage. Mr- and Mm. Duebbert moved to M- Charles, Mo-, whea e they llwd for si- most lx years. lUater they came to Franklin County and reslited near Boles. On Jury 17. 1SS2. Mr Duebbert died. .Mrs. Duebben remained on the farm at Boles until 1916. when she moved to I'nlon. AVi.. to tnak her home wKh tier Uaughrer, Mrs. Emma Schnaalh. Mrs. DueWiert becasoe seriously 111 last Wednesday and waa taken to St. Louis to have an operation performed, and which it was hoped would save her lit but she fafied to rally-She leave to mourn her departure ber fosr children, Mr. Emma Schnaath, of Union, Mr. J- Berg-horn and H- H. Duebbert. ot Boles. and Edward Daebbert, of Oklahoma City. Okla-. nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one sister. Mrs. Holts, of Bt. Lout. Menealos Brakulls. oa of Mr. and Mrs- Dementriua Biakulis, died at his bom tn St. Louis Wednesday niorn-Iqg, January 30. at the age of 11 year, He la survived by his parent and two brothers. George, of St. Louis and John of Washington. Th funeral aervicea were held Friday (today) In St Louis. Mr. Brakulls k the proprietor of th Olympta Candy Co., and his place of business wae closed for several days. Miss Lucille Krog. of this city, took part in a student' recital at Linden-wood College, St. Charlees. Mo., con cluding tha first semester in late January. Her number waa "Sonata Op. 26" by Beethoven, (Adante con Varlaslonl), a sympathetic and melodious rendition of seven elaborations. The recital -was elven In Itoemer Auditorium, before tb student body of 450 girls, and the faculty. OBSERVER PLANT HOW III BUSINESS DISTRICT NEW HOME BOUGHT FROM A LOCAL BANK. Moving of Heavy Machinery a Hue- Task A. A. Stein-beck Now In Charge. Che office and printing plant of the Franklin Publishing Company, pub lisher of the Franklin County Obser ver, are now located in the former Bank of Washington building on the south side of Main Street, between Lafayette and Oak. This building was purchased aa a home for tb Franklin County Observer several weeks ago by A. H- Steinbeck, statis tician for the Bureau of Labor Com mlBsloners at Jefferson City aad senior member of the firm Franklin Publishing Company, which also pub lishes the Ttepublican-Trlbune and conducts a large and modern printing plant at Union, the county seat. A. A. Steinbeck is In charge of the business at Washington, while his younger brother. H- F. Steinbeck, Is in charts of the Union plant. Mr and Mrs. A. A. Steinbeck and little son have moved to Washington from I'nlon and together alth O. H. Bark-lav and family will occupy the mini above the printing plant on Main Street. The former bank building was thoroughly remodeled both for business and residence purposes. It Is ideally located in the heart of the business district and its construction and arrangement are vr-tlcularly adapted for newspaper and printing purposes. Many changes, however, are still to be made and, when completed, the owners will he equipped to publish a bigger and better newspaper and render the best lu printing service. Th Job of moving to the new location was a huge task, and this week's kwue of the Observer was printed under many difficulties. We beg the Indulgence of our subscribers if this week'a Issue falls to reach them on Urns or that the edition l not up to Us usual standard in the way of news and typographical neatness. The entire force worked mighty diligently this week grabbing only as much sleep as absolutely necessary. Otto yoessli of Hermann. Mo.. Joined our atechaiilcal force thia week as an "ad and' Job man" and unsifted in moving the plant. All the moving of heavy machinery was clone under supervision of August Mueller & Son- Many people were attracted to our new home watching the b"y movers unload the heavy pieces of steel. When these pieces of ..tcel and anmerous bolts, etc.. were finally in our new home they all had to be put together again-There probably Is no other machinery In the world more intricate and complicated than newspaper presses and typesetting machines, particularly linotypes. Nevertheless our force, together with some local machinists, managed to get all the machines up ami going in perfect working order wfchout th aid of some skilled outside machinists. We'll admit, however, that brains ached under many perplexing problems and we're glad now that It is all over. The Observer fr. u Indebted to the aervicea of Ruaeel J. Tibbe. or the mine rrouucia Co.. and H- P. Shive. district manager for the Northwestern Mutual Life In surance Co. Both thes gentlemen are skilled machinists, and they donned overalls and helped the rest of the force In getting the big machines back ia operation. Within the next week we expect to have our new office :-.t ".nli.lr antf annn" ana pnniniK .j... - - in everv vnf, and we will then ap- tiavlnz visitors call on us. The new Observer horn was built ia 1880 and was occupied from that time until about a year ago by the Rank of Washington. It is three atnrioa hieh. of brick and stone con strnctlon. The building Is equipped with a first-class eteam heating plant and other modern conveniences. LeIn Pot Elects Officer. The Washington Post of the Ameri can Lerhm tieid a meeting at the Tut ner Hall Anacx Thursday evening. January 24. Th following officers were elected for the coming year: A. C. Runrnelt. commander; Walter Otto, vice-commander; R. v. wiuen-hHnk. nost admtant: Edwin H. Thlas finance officer; Walter Roehl. welfare officer; Roy Miller, custodian. Dr. Cutler, who Joined the Legion Thura-day evening, spoke on the soldier bonus. City Attorney Herbert A- Krog. gave a talk on "The Difference of the Soldiers of the World War and those ?f the Civil War." Another meeting was held at the Bank of Washington on Thursday v-enlnc. January 31. and four entertainment committees were appointed. First committee, John Toben. chairman; Fred Mauntel. Martin Boston. Melvln Frlck, Leander Eckelkamp and Roy Miller; second committee, Walter Roehl, chairman; Chaa. Schroeder. Emll Ronslck, Edmund Zeller, Matt Bleker and Louis Kohmueller; third committee, Fred Spreckelmeyer, chairman; John Brinkmann. Henry Detmer, Arthur Mauntel, Henry W. Altemueller and Al. Holtmeyer; fourth committee, Noel Graf rath, chairman; Walter Otto, Henry Tibb. John Wilmesheer, Ed- Schwenker and Henry Kahle. BIIE MAT BEAT MISSOIKI ASH tiraaddaagfater ef Eanieas Hen Ms I'ace at tollege ef Agriculture n lavinar Ml errs In ten. months U'trita Urhnra hen No. 57 at tha Mis souri College ot Agriculture ha aet a new pace In tha flock ot 1,200 hens now being trap-nested by the depart ment or poultry ouaDanary. i oia oen la a granddaughter of the tamoua hen. Missouri Ann (No. 2768). atlll living and nrraalnnallv lavlna at the College of Agriculture. Missouri Ann laid 946 eggs In six year and win oouDuess make the l.ooo egg goal oetor sne mh to her lone rest. The new candidate for the honors ot tha College flock began laying at 220 daya of age and has completed ner first laying year with a record of 247 rn Her mother. Hen No. 3302. laid 202 egga her first year, fihe also ha a alster that laid 420 eggs in ner nrsi two yaars- All hen at the College of Agrlcul ture are warmly boused and are care' fully fed balanced ration. The prln clples underlying their care are In rluded In Station Circular 111. "Feed Ing For Egg Production." which may be obtained by addressing the College of Agriculture at coiumma, mo. Ice In River Break. Ttie ke In the Missouri River, which was blocked here tor seven days, broke last Sunday evening shortly after 5 o'clock. The swiftly moving lea threatened damage to sev eral barge and amall boats. Only a few persons ventured a trip across th river while it was blocked- There were numerous so-called "air holes", and nowhere was the Ice more than six Inches thick. This waa the firBt time in six years that the Mis sourl River was blocked at Washing ton. SHORT NEWS ITEMS OF LOCAMNTEREST FACTS ABOUT PEOPLE AND PLACES YOU KNOW. Incidents That Occurred Dur ing Past Week In Washington and Surroundings. Car) Krunmlck returned Thursday iiHin.lntrfrum Chicago, III.;" where tie attended an automobile show. Julius Vogt of HigglnHvllle, Mo., arrived Wednesday afternoon for a visit here with Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Vogt This week Nlewald's Garage moved to the property formerly occupied by the Acme Poster Company on West Main Street. Bihr Brothers will oc cupy the garage building on Second fUreet and will have their plumbing business there. Henry Pollex died suddenly Friday morning, February 1, at the age of C7 years- The funeral will be held Monday. February 4. from tbe rest dence east of town. The remains will be shipped to Morrison. Mo. Obituary win be given next week. A single comb White Leghorn, the property of the Poultry department of the University of Missouri, recently established a new laying record for this section by laying 247 eggs In 12 months. The previous record In the department was 245 eggs In a year- Last Thursday evening. January 24 while out night hunting several miles from town. John Hoelscher of this city fell out of a large tree, the dis tance being about 20 feet. His arm was broken In two places, and he al so suffered internal Injuries. At present he Is In a critical condition. Prof. H. F. Major, landscape architect of the University of Missouri advised visitors In Columbia recently attending tbe Farmers' Fair to plant fruit trees along the highways of the state. The practice would serve a triple plan, of producing fruit for the owner, beautify the roadsides, and In crease the value ot tbe land, he ex plained. The second semester of the University of Missouri begins January 29, following a week of final examinations terminating the first semester Registration at the University 1s expected to Increase somewhat with the opening of tb winter terra. It la the first winter term under the two-sem ester plan, which the University re turned to this year after several years ot th three-term plan. Master Donald Aael celebrated his alxth birthday anniversary Wednesday afternoon, January 30, by entertaining several of bis little friend at hia bom on Oak 8 1 rest. Those piesent ware: Lorene Twelker, Ruth Pelts, Margie Horn, Jane Arcularlua. Lollta Baumann.. Jean Schuls and Betty Ana Wigden; Virgil AltholU, Kenneth Krael, Arnold Baumann, Jr.. Junior Schulx, Frederick Pelts, Donald Twelker and Donald Aael. Mra. Magdalln O'Neill, nee'Asher- mann. died at her horn In St. Louis, Friday, January 25. at the age of 84 years. Mra. O'Neill Is survived toy her daughters, Miss Catherine O'Neill, of St. Loui. and Mrs. Edward Close, of Ban Francisco, Cat. She also leaves one brother. Fred Ashermann, and on alster, Mlaa Julia Aahermann. Mrs. O'Neill waa a alster of Mrs. Mary Hollhau and Mra. John Trentmann, ot thia city, tooth deceased, she had many friend her who will be sorry to learn ot her death. MISS SEIFERT WRITES A BIOGRAPHY OF SELF, POPULAR AUTHOR SPENT CHILDHOOD HERE. Says Her First Story Was Bae4l On a Tragedy That Hap-ened In Washington. t Miss Shirley Selfert. ot St- Louta. ona of America' aioet popular tory writers, has another later ting uon- trlbutlon of fiction in th January issue of The Designer. Ia late year her stories bav appeared la tnany the leading tnagaxinea of tb United States. Mis Selfert apeat ber Clifla--hood days In Washington and hall many friend here woo are intererttad In her continued soocess aa m rtory writer. Tha Designer, (n addition to Ml Selfert's latest story. "Hands Ftiir', published a photograph and biography of Mis Selfert wrKtea by herself. In her biography ab makea mention of tbe time she lived in Washington, and that her very first story. iuto-llshed In Munsey's. was based nu a tragedy brought over from here. MN Selfert'i biography, aa published .by Tbe Designer, follow: Now for the biography: I declare I always groan over that task. If T show what seems to me a decent rt- cence about my private personality. I am called stingy. If I threw discretion to tbe winds and prattle frank ly about my ego, I sound too flippant to be quite respectable I cant bore you. either, with a eerioua treatment of my career, which Is eventful only to me because to me the dawn of new day Is an event. This curious' Interest In the little happening ot every day plays havoc, I am afraid, with my story plotting- The wmt dramatic things, to my notion) fall flat on the ears of those whom 1 would have for readers- 1 am afraid that will spoil the biography, too. I was born in the little town culled St. Peters. Missouri, off the erir of a large farm belonging to my grandfather. From those days of iii1uit:y and later childhood-visits to the farm. I have carried fleeting vions of sunlit spuces and a hankering for roominess, abundance, oonxfortable living and peace a somt tfclLfi that muaea me stifle in tbe city, it every so often I can't get Into the pen to breuth. At -least. . tbat'a -wtiere 1 -wuppomi I derived my love for tre open couutry-Nowadays I am saying. "When I get a little more money, I am golnr; ts build me a home on a wooded hill with the sparkle of water rlgrt wtirr-I can see it. and have dogs und horse or two and all the flowers In, the world and so cn and on.' . Soon after my birth, my parent moved to St. Louis, and A year or two later to another email town, Washington. Missouri, where 1 spent mont of my childhood. 1 was a precocious child. I fear, with a fatal ease of learning, which must have made me somewhat offensive. I can't remenv-. ber that I was at all popular, though I And now that I did have quite a fww friends there. I didn't write, but tfetir me, how I did read! Everything from a stolen "Sappho" to a translation of tbe "Aeneid." My mother interrupt to say that I did write, that once I wrote "An Autobiography of a Doll,' which mada a real sensation. 1" haven't a copy. Oui was a larr. family and every o often 'the attio. got so full that tbe surplus hud to, be burned. I did apeak pieces. Elocution, they called t! Once, an " rather fat, funny person In tuckid ' white organdy, I won a prise for declaiming a prairie fire. The prU was a Cambridge edition of Longfel low Poems, illustrated, and auto graphed by the school superintend!!, ' Then we came back to HL lu!fl . and her we are! 1 graduated from,-the high schools here and from Wat;h- , Ington University. I was still smart. ' At college I translated Horace's Od into poetry and so got a good grade In Latin and not too much personal attention. For writing at high school I moved an assembly to tears with my Impressions of tbe history of Joun ot Arc. And I was class-poet wh:a 1 graduated from the university. I shamelessly took any rhyme scheme from Keats and my sentiments from Lowell. Poetry Isn't natural to me. though tha first written fling tur which I earned money waa a Uncle la' an advertising contest. Tbrougn college, I still had a tast tor the stage, was even starred in Ut annual tnaav ' moth production of tie dramatlo club, put on at a regular theatre. . Once bara-atoMned for a week through the state. Vou see, that sort ' of thing terribly adventurous to mo. but meaningless. to you all. After college I taught school. Fail ing to hold my interest In that orates-. skn, I tried business, doing secre tarial work all through the, war. Jut before that, however, I took a sum- : mer course In Journalism at th Use- . verslty of Wisconsin. I waa trylng-slmply to And something to do besldi teaching. Looking ever th catalog. picked on Journalism toecaus 1 i rather liked to write. Ones, bock In oollege. in th court of F.oglbih study, I had written a story based vm ' a tragedy brought over from the town of Washington. . Tie orofessor - thought It so horrid that I paid th deas's secretary to type It and I seut 1 It on to Munsey's. Way Muneev'a. I ' cant remember. The auacaaiue Leut (continued on page 4)